Gravity - B. Barnes

-6-

AN: Trigger warning - assault/panic

"You sent him speed dating!"

"You were at the same event. I don't see what the problem is."

"Sam...that was probably the worst night of my life. Call the man. He is not okay after that experience. I guarantee it."

Sam chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Alright, I'll call him. But what about you? How have you been?"

"Honestly? I'm good. Best I've been in...years."

"Does that have something to do with a certain man I may have been responsible for I touch g you to?"

"Sam."

"I'm just saying-"

"I've bumped into him like twice, but yes, he's a nice guy."

"I knew it! You like him!"

Kat sighed. "Listen, I just got to the grocery store-"

"You called me and we're just getting to the juicy parts-"

"Well, if you had answered when I called you the first time twenty minutes ago, you would've had twenty minutes," she teased.

"Alright fine. I'll call you next weekend!"

"Sounds good. Bye, Sammy." Kat chuckled and shook her head as she hung up the phone.

As she entered the grocery store and scanned the aisles, she hummed to herself. Despite the terrible speed dating event Lu had dragged her to the night before, she was in a good mood. Seeing James again had made her smile. It'd been a while since she'd accidentally crashed his date, and though they weren't exactly friends, she found herself enjoying his company.

"Katherine?"

Her head snapped up at the voice behind her, goosebumps spreading over her skin at the familiarity of it. No one had called her Katherine since...It couldn't be. She wasn't going to take the chance. She immediately started moving toward the exit of the grocery store, her cart full of food forgotten behind her.

"Katie girl!"

She sped up, chancing a glance behind her as she reached the doors. Max. She picked up speed until she reached the subway and boarded a train, finally feeling a bit safer. Her knee bounced as she watched the car occupants, still anxious and unsettled at seeing him again. It'd been well over a month since she'd seen him on the street with Bucky. She thought she was safe but clearly nowhere was safe.

Kat sat, stunned, on the subway for a full hour before she finally disembarked and made her way home. She'd locked herself in her apartment for three days, calling out of work once, before she felt grounded enough to go back to life as she'd known it.

After a chaotic week at work following her run in with Max, she was on edge. She called Lucy. "Can I come over? We can have a drink and dance it out?"

"I'd never pass up drinks with you! How's 8?"

"Perfect. I'll see you later."

Kat didn't bother dressing up, they were just staying in for the night. She'd tossed on some jogging pants and a sweatshirt and headed to Lucy's. Imagine her surprise when Lucy opened the door dressed in a black mini skirt and hot pink silk tank top with pink pumps, her makeup covered face frowning at Kat's wardrobe.

"I thought we were drinking and dancing?"

"Lu, I asked if I could come over for drinks."

"Yeah, come over and pick me up...no?" She sighed. "Come in. Let's see if we can find you something -"

"Lu, I don't want to go clubbing. I hate those places. It always smells weird and there's so much grinding and..." She shivered at the thought of all the sweaty people rubbing against her.